sour as a bag of lemons

Sometimes, Omaha wondered if he and Taylor were still friends. Sure, they ate meals together. Even cleaned the kitchen together, and yes..even yard work. Which they were doing now.

Naturally, Sara said they were lazy and no beer until the front and back yard were spotless of autumn leaves.

"God, she's such a slave driver." Omaha squinted sweat. Why were there so many leaves? It didn't feel that much, like autumn. He was in his gray ribbed tank and sweat pants, raking the leaves in a pile.

"Somebody has to do it." Taylor barely said as he picked up leaves in his gloved hands. He was just in his cargo shorts and sneakers.

"What?" Omaha knew Taylor didn't like this anymore than he did.

"Just..just do it, will you." Taylor went on with piling the leaves in the big brown paper bag. Omaha went on to do the same.

"Are you sure about this?" Omaha found himself wondering if Taylor really wanted to spend the rest of his life with a woman like Sara.

"What are you going on about?" Taylor did sound a bit choked up. He was allergic to grasses.

"You know, marrying..HER." Omaha pulled a face of disgust, as if he wasn't really on board with this. It was like Omah might be marrying her too. He'd have to do everything Taylor was doing..except sleeping with her. Omaha wasn't sure he was all right with that.

"IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN." Taylor was now pissed as he slammed more leaves in the almost full bag. Omaha went to get another bag from the garage.

"Its gonna be awful." Omaha told him.

"How can you say that!" Taylor snapped.

"I..I..I just think... you could do better." He know how easy it was for Taylor to talk to females. He could be going out with someone new, every week.

"I can't believe YOU said that." Taylor looked at him, ever so stern.

"Its..its just an observation." Omaha didn't mean to be cruel.

"What would you know?" Taylor crossed his arms as if he was trying to keep himself from punching him.

"I..I just think..." Even Omaha didn't know where he was going with this. He knew he should have kept his mouth shut about this. "hmmm..I've been wondering about this whole Emily thing." Omaha found a scratch to itch at the back of his head. "What's that all about?"

"Emily?"

Omaha knew he'd touched on a sore subject.

Taylor cleared his throat, but he didn't say anything.

"What is it about her?" Omaha wondered.

Taylor remained even lipped and went on with the yard work.